Load-bearing panel wall and connected beam structure



April 18, 1967 c. R. ROLEN 3,314,202

LOAD-BEARING PANEL WALL AND CONNECTED BEAM STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 8, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1" v INVENTOR. CARL R. ROLE N MAHONEY. MILL & RAMBO ATTORNE Y5.

April 1967 c. R. ROLEN 3,314,202

LOAD-BEARING PANEL WALL AND CONNECTED BEAM STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f zzzzz-i" INVENTOR. CARL R. ROLEN BY MAHONEY. MILLER 8. RAMBO BY WM ATTORNEYS.

April 18, 1967 c, R, ROLEN 3,314,202

LOAD-BEARING PANEL WALL AND CONNECTED BEAM STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MAHONEY. MILL & RAMBO BY W ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,314,202 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 3,314,202 LOAD-BEARIN G PANEL WALL AND CONNECTED BEAM STRUCTURE Carl R. Rolen, Rte. 3, Pataskala, Ohio 43062 Filed Aug. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 300,800 Claims. c1. 52-272 My invention relates to a load-bearing panel wall and connected beam structure. It has to do, more specifically, with a wall or partition which is of lightweight construction but which is capable of supporting heavy loads carried thereby and by beams connected thereto in a special manner according to this invention. The beams connected to the panels of the wall may be joists, celling or roof beams, rafters, or any other supporting or spacing member extending laterally at any angle to the panel. The panels may be in either an outside wall or an inside wall.

Various types of lightweight panels have been provided in the past which include generally inner and outer skins with lightweight insulation disposed therebetween. These panels have many desirable features but one disadvantage of them is that they could not be used as loadsupporting walls.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide lightweight panels of the general type indicated but which have means incorporated therein to make them capable of load bearing. v

Another object of my invention is to provide panels of the type indicated above wherein the load-bearing means of the panels facilitates rapid erection thereof.

Still another object of my invention is to provide panels of the type indicated above wherein the load-bearing means of the panels also cooperates with attaching means on beams to connect the beams to the panels.

A further object of my invention is to provide panels of the type indicated wherein the load-bearing means facilitates upright erection of panels either in a single lower row or superimposed rows with the upper and lower edges of the panels of respective rows in association.

Various other objects will be apparent.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated panels constructed in accordance with this invention and several ways in which the panels are connected to various beams. However, it is to be understood that specific modifications can be made without departing from basic principles of this invention.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric-view showing erected panels and connected beams in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric View showing the end of a beam with a connection used in connecting the adjacent upper and lower edges of superimposed panels and the beam.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the su erimposed panels connected by the connection of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view showing how a rafter and panel may be connected together.

As previously indicated, my invention deals with sandwich-type panels which are usually of lightweight construction and which consist of inner and outer light skins disposed in facing relationship with a space therebetween. Thus, in the drawings I have disclosed such panels vertically disposed and each of which includes an outer skin 11 and an inner skin 12, with a body of insulation 13 disposed therebetween. The outer and inner skins 11 and 12 may be of the same sheet material or may be of different sheet materials. This material may be sheets of metal, plastic, plywood or any other suitable skin material.

The body of insulation 13 may be foamed polystyrene,

polyurethane, insulating board, fiber glass or any other suitable mass of insulation. The insulating body 13 may be bonded or otherwise suitably secured to the skins 11 and 12. The resulting panel is indicated generally by the numeral 14.

According to my invention, the panel is made loadbearing by incorporating therein load-bearing columns or pillars which extend the full height of the panels and are disposed in laterally spaced relationship adjacent one face of the panel. In the drawings, I have shown these load-bearing members in the form of tubular posts 15 preferably formed of metal such as steel or aluminum. These posts are disposed directly adjacent the inner skin 12 in contact therewith and may be secured in position merely by embedding them in the body of insulation 13 although they can be actually attached to the skin by a binding agent or by mechanical fasteners (not shown). The outer skin 11 will preferably be spaced from the loadbearing member 15 and will be insulated therefrom by the insulating body material 13. The member 15 will be of a cross-sectional diameter or dimension substantially less than the thickness of the insulating body 13 so that the member 15 will be insulated from the outer skin 11 as indicated above. It will be understood that although I show only one post 15 embedded in the portions of the vertical panels indicated, a series of these posts will be provided in each panel which will extend vertically of the panel and will be in laterally spaced relationship therein. For example, they may be spaced to the same extent as studding commonly provided in building walls.

The panels preferably are used with and connected to beams 20 of the type indicated in the drawings although other types of beams may be provided. The beam 20 illustrated is of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,851,747 issued Sept. 16, 1958. Each of these beams is in the form of a box girder and comprises laterally spaced, vertically disposed wooden web members 16. and the vertically spaced metal chord members 17 which are connected to the upper and lower edges of the web members. All these members are so connected together that they cooperate to function structurally as a composite beam as disclosed in said patent. Each chord member 17 has an outwardly opening nailing groove 18.

According to this invention, the end of each beam 20 is connected to the associated panel 14 in a novel way, being connected to the load-bearing member or port 15 thereof.

Assuming that the beams 20 are used as joists on which the lower ed es of the panels 14 are supported, as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2. the upper edge of the joists at its ends is provided with a connecting bracket 21. This bracket 21 is provided with a fiat plate base portion which rests on the upper surface of the metal chord 17 of the beam and may be secured thereto by nails 22 (FIGURES 1 and 2) passed downwardly through suitable openings in the plate into the nailing groove 18 of the chord. Thus, the bracket 21 will be held in place longitudinally of the beam. It is provided with an upstanding stud sleeve 23 which will snugly receive the lower end of the pipe or post 15 and these two members may be held together by a nail or pin 24 passed through the panel 12 and aligning transverse openings in the members 15 and 23. The bracket 21 is located on the end of the beam 20 in such a position that the panel will be located in overhanging relationship to the end of the beam as shown in FIGURE 2. This will so locate the outer skin 11 beyond the end of the joist as to provide a drip edge outwardly beyond the joists. This will fa-v cilitate finish or masonry Work at the outer ends of the joists and lower edges of the panels'to provide a water- 3 proof arrangement. It is possible to weld the stud sleeve 23 directly to the member 17 of the beam 20. Also, it is possible to mount the bracket 21 on a slab or footer or the top of an anchor bolt embedded in concrete.

The beams 20 may also be used as rafters or ceiling joists where their ends are connected in contact with the inner skins 12 of the panels 14 substantially perpendicular thereto, as indicated in FIGURES l and 2. To connect each of the beams to each panel 14 at its upper edge, a special metal connecting member 25 is provided. This member 25 is provided with a pin 26 which is extended into the upper chord member 17 of the beam and is welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. The outer end of the pin 26 has a stud 27 secured thereto, as by welding, and extending downwardly therefrom at a slight angle from the vertical. The stud, thus with the pin 26 forms an obtuse angle. The stud is of considerably less diameter than the pipe or post 15 with which it is to cooperate. It is adapted to wedge in the pipe or tube 15 at the innermost and outermost points a and b, respectively (FIGURE 2) and it will be understood that the horizontal distance between these points, that is the distance in the direction of the axis of the pin 26, is greater than the internal diameter of the pipe or tube 15 before the stud 27 is wedged into the upper end thereof.

The upper end of the tube or pipe 15 is provided with a radial notch 28 and the upper edge of the inner skin of the panel is correspondingly notched. This makes it possible to insert the stud 27 into the upper end of the pipe 15 and wedge it therein until the pin 26 rests on the bottom of the notch. The notch will be of such depth that at this time the upper edge of the beam 20 will be fiush with the upper edge of the panel as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Forcing the angular stud 27 downwardly into the upper end of the pipe 15 will draw the end of the beam and the inner surface of the panel 14 tightly together. If desired, the corners of the pipe 15 adjacent the notch 28 therein may be battered down over the pin 26 to hold it down in place at the bottom of the notch or a pin or nail 29 may be passed transversely through the lower end of the stud and aligning openings in the skin 12 and pipe 15.

If the panels 14 are to be superimposed upon each other in a two-story construction, as indicated in FIGURE 4, with the lower edge of the upper panel 14a contacting the upper edge of the lower panel 14a, a modified connector 25a may be used. In this instance, the pin 26a will carry a stud or sleeve 27a which will have upwardly and downwardly extending end portions, above and below the pin 26a, for telescoping with aligning upper and lower pipes 15a of abutting panels 14a. The connector 25a will be mounted as before by inserting the stud 27a in the upper notched end of the pipe 15a in the lower panel 14a. The aligning pipe 15a of the upper panel 14a will then he slipped over the upper end of the stud 27a which will project considerably above the beam 20a. A nail or pin 24a may then be passed through the skin 12a and an opening in the upper end of the stud 27a to fix these members together and a nail or pin 29a may be similarly used at its lower end. The innermost and outermost points A and B, respectively, on the angularly disposed stud 27a will wedge in the respective pipes 15a and thereby align them as well as draw the end of the beam 29a up against the lower panel 12a. To accurately align the upper and lower panels, a spline strip 30 may be inserted in aligning slots in the meeting edges thereof.

Sometimes it .is desirable, as shown in FIGURE 5, to use the beams 20b as rafters and to dispose them in an inclined position relative to a vertical panel 14b. For this purpose, the end of the beam 20b is angled to contact the inner face of the panel 14b and the upper edge of the panel is angled to be flush with the upper surface of the rafter in its final position. The connection 25b is modified slightly as compared to that of FIGURES 1 and 2 to increase the angularity between the pin 26b and the stud 27b. The stud 27b may be held down in the pipe 1512 by bending the notch corners or by using a pin 2% as before. As a result the inclined rafter 20b will be drawn tightly up against the panel 14b. A roof deck panel 301) may then be disposed on the rafters 20b and extended in overhanging relationship to the outer surface of the panel 14b.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a sandwich-type panel structure which may be of the lightweight insulating type but which is provided with a structural load-bearing arrangement including the load-bearing members extending vertically in the panels for the complete height thereof. T-hese load-bearing members are so embedded in the panel that they are in sulated from the outer skin thereof and, therefore, will not provide a conducting path from the outside of the panel into the connected beams. The beams are so connected to the load-bearing members that the ends of the beams and the inner face or skin of the panels are drawn into tight contact. This is accomplished with the connecting members which are fixed to the ends of the beams and which extend outwardly at an angle relative to the ends of the beams so that when inserted in the load-bearing members they provide a wedging action which draws the ends of the beams tightly against the panels. The beams can be at right angles to the panels, such as in floor and ceiling beams, or at greater angles, such as in roof rafters. Even though the panels are of a load-bearing nature, they still will be relatively light as the hollow loadbearing members will not add a substantial amount of weight to the panels. The structure is such that the panels can be rapidly erected and will be firmly held in position.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isi v 1. In a building structure, a panel comprising opposed skins disposed in spaced relationship and having insulating material therebetween, a load-bearing member disposed in said space directly adjacent one of the skins and extending therealong, said load-bearing member being in the form of a tube with an open end, a beam extending from said panel at an angle to the skin adjacent which said tube is disposed and having an end adjacent said skin, and a connecting member secured to said beam end and having a portion extending into the open end of said tube for connecting the beam end to the panel in abutting relationship with the said adjacent skin of the panel, said connecting member portion being in the form of a stud having its one end rigidly connected to the end of the beam and extending therefrom at a slight angle from the vertical with its free end spaced outwardly from the beam end with the result that when the free end of the stud is inserted into the open end of the tube it will wedge tightly therein.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the stud is connected to the beam by a pin which carries it which is rigidly carried by the beam and projects outwardly from its end, said upper end of the tube having an outwardly opening notch for receiving the pin as the stud is inserted in the tube end.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the stud is of considerably less diameter than the internal diameter of said tube but is angled to such an extent that it engages the tube at diametrically opposed points at its free end and at said pin which carries it.

4. In a building structure, a panel comprising opposed skins disposed in spaced relationship and having insulating material therebetween, a load-bearing member disposed in said space directly adjacent one of the skins and extending therealong, said load-bearing member being in the form of a tube with an open end, a beam extending from said panel at an angle to the skin adjacent which said tube is disposed and having an end adjacent said skin, and a connecting member secured to said beam end and having a portion extending into the open end of said tube for connecting the beam end to the panel, said connecting member portion being in the form of a stud at an angle to the adjacent end of the beam so that it will wedge into the open end of the tube, said stud being connected to the beam by a pin which carries it, said upper end of the tube having an outwardly opening notch for receiving the pin as the stud is inserted in the tube end, said stud extending in both directions from the pin so that its opposed ends will receive aligning tubes.

5. In a building structure having panels in edge-to-edge contact, each of said panels comprising opposed skins disposed in spaced relationship and having insulating material therebetween, a load-bearing member disposed in said space directly adjacent one of the skins and extending therealong, said load-bearing member being in the form of a tube with an open end, a beam extending from said panel at an angle to the skin adjacent which said tube is disposed and having an end adjacent said skin, and a connecting member secured to said beam end and having a portion extending into the open end of said tube for connecting the beam end to the panel, said panels being in said edge-to-edge contact adjacent the end of the beam,

said connecting member having stud portions extending in opposite directions into aligning tubes in the panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,447,827 3/ 1923 Warner 52-285 1,473,817 11/1923 Gorsline 248243 2,202,850 6/ 1940 Guignon 52-497 2,241,169 5/1941 Yokes 52289 2,261,510 11/ 1941 Atcheson 52289 2,796,158 6/1959 Miles 24S-243 2,953,873 10/1960 Tatro 52-289 3,193,885 7/1965 Gartner 248243 FOREIGN PATENTS 231,277 1959 Australia.

556,580 1957 Belgium.

129,429 1950 Sweden.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Examiner. 

1. IN A BUILDING STRUCTURE, A PANEL COMPRISING OPPOSED SKINS DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP AND HAVING INSULATING MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN, A LOAD-BEARING MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID SPACE DIRECTLY ADJACENT ONE OF THE SKINS AND EXTENDING THEREALONG, SAID LOAD-BEARING MEMBER BEING IN THE FORM OF A TUBE WITH AN OPEN END, A BEAM EXTENDING FROM SAID PANEL AT AN ANGLE TO THE SKIN ADJACENT WHICH SAID TUBE IS DISPOSED AND HAVING AN END ADJACENT SAID SKIN, AND A CONNECTING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID BEAM END AND HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE OPEN END OF SAID TUBE FOR CONNECTING THE BEAM END TO THE PANEL IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAID ADJACENT SKIN OF THE PANEL, SAID CONNECTING 